Improvement in game-boards



A. 0. B'UURN & W. G. VEBMILY E.

Game-Board.

Patented May 25,1875.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIo AUGUSTUS O. BOURN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, AND WILLIAM Gr.

- VERMILYE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,630, dated May 25, 1875; application filed March 13, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUGUSTUS 0.. BOURN, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, and WILLIAM G. VER- MILYE, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game- Boards for Chess, Backgammon, &c.

Our invention relates to that class of socalled boards employed in connection with such games as drafts, chess, and backgammon, which are capable of being rolled or packed in a small compass.

The object of our invention is the production of a cheap and durable board of this general character, and one which will readily lie solidly and fiat on a table.

Our invention consists in a novel construction of the board, involving the use of cloth after the manner of inlaying, and a foundation of india-rubber or compounds thereof; and we do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and full description of our said invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents in top view one of our novel chessboards. Fig. 2 represents the reverse side of the same. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the same.

A denotes the rubber foundation. \Ve prefer to employ the usual and well-known vulcanizable compounds well mixed with ground fibrous waste in a manner well known. The thickness of the foundation may be varied; but it is not essential that it be of greater bulk than will enable the board to lie flatly and solidly on a table. The chess surface B has a border composed preferably of woolen fabric out in strips, which are cemented with soft rubber to the foundation. The squares, in two colors, are also preferably composed of close-Woven fabric, and after being cemented they are applied one after the other to the foundation. The backgammon surface 0 may be composed of a layer of cloth, in one color, for the groundwork, properly cemented and applied. The points are provided for therein, prior to cementing, by cutting from the cloth, so as to afford recesses into which the points of a contrasting-colored cloth are to be inlaid after being duly cemented.v The boards are then vulcanized, which securely unites the cloth to the rubber foundation.

In making the chess surface small scraps or pieces of cloth, which would otherwise be used up as waste stock, may be utilized in this manner, and so enable the production of these boards at low cost, inasmuch as the labor of putting them together can be quite rapidly performed by comparatively unskilled hands. In making the backgammon surface, the recesses for the points may be cut, for instance, from a dark-colored cloth by means of a suitable cutter adapted to that purpose, and also from a similar light-colored cloth, each of which pieces will serve as a groundwork, while the points out therefrom may be interchangeably used, thereby producing the requisite contrast between the points and groundwork.

The woolen surface will afford sufficient friction to the chess-men or other game implements to prevent their slipping unduly thereon, and these boards are, therefore, well adapted for the use of travelers on railroadtrains and steamers. These boards may be rolled up in a small compass, and when required for use will readily resume their normal condition. They are very durable, and can be made very attractive in appearance.

We are aware that game-boards have here tofore been made of cloth, and provided with colored, painted, or enameled surfaces.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A game-board composed of a foundation of iudia-rubber, or a compound thereof, and having cloth squares, points, &c., after the manner of inlaying, on one or both of its surfaces, substantially as and for the purposes specifled.

AUGUSTUS O. BOURN. WILLIAM G. VERMILYE.

Witnesses BE GINALD HART, DAVID DAYTON. 

